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I have over 420 books in my home library. I began my collection 13 years ago. I added books from thrift stores, gifts from friends, and even books from my parent’s house that I read as a child.

A New York Times article said 1,000 books is commonly accepted as the number that transforms a book collection into a library. However, a renowned book collector added you really only need about 500 books before your collection feels like a library. He said he once had a collection of just 30 books and still felt like it was a library. A library is more about a feeling than an exact number.

Reid Byers, author of The Private Library, used the phrase “book wrapt” to describe the feeling a large book collection emanates. It’s a unique phrase he used to encompass several ideas.

The term “wrapt” is a combination of wrapped and rapt. A large book collection on shelves around a room wraps you up the same way a comfort blanket might wrap around you. It also uses the phrase “rapt” to describe the raptured feeling from reading books.

If you have a book collection that makes you feel book wrapt, how do you organize your books and keep track of them?

Here are five popular book organizational tips and ways I use them for my home library.

1. Saving Books in a Book Database

Once your book collection grows past a certain point (for me, it was 100 books), you can easily lose track of what books you have. I ended up buying two copies of Tom Sawyer because I forgot I already owned a copy.

I believe that any large book collection should have a book database. A book database allows you to easily see what books you have and search for specific books.

I use the BookBuddy app on my phone. I’m not a paid partner of BookBuddy. I just really like their app. It’s simple and easy to use.

When I buy or receive new books, I use the barcode scanner to conveniently enter them into the database. If the book doesn’t have a barcode or the barcode is unreadable, you can also enter the ISBN number or enter the book manually.

The database offers several cover options and versions to be as specific as you want.

You can also select tags and make your own categories. For example, I created a tag specifically for my husband’s books, books for my kids, and my books. I also created tags for reading levels and genres. That way, I can search for books depending on my mood or give more appropriate book recommendations to others.

2. Identifying Your Books

If you’re like me, your books don’t stay at home. I take them to appointments, when I travel, and I lend them out.

Because I’m human, I may leave my book places. When others borrow my books, they can end up on their shelves.

To ensure my favorite books have a greater chance of making their way back to my shelves, I mark them using a book stamp.

A book stamp adds your name to your books, identifying them as your own.

3. Storing Books on a Bookshelf

When you have large bookshelves, you may need to begin considering how you organize your books. There are several common ways to track and store large book collections.

Organize Your Books by Genre

I use the most straightforward method for organizing my books because I still have a relatively small personal library.

I organize my books according to theme and genre. I have two shelves of classic books, two shelves of young reader books, adult books, fantasy novels, book series, and historical books. When I look for a book, I go to the genre shelf and can quickly find it from there.

Organize Your Books by Title

If you have a larger collection (and more time to keep it organized), you might alphabetize your books. You. can alphabetize your books by author’s first name, last name, or book title.

If you do use book titles, I recommend prioritizing book series names over individual book titles. That way, you can keep your book series together.

Organize Your Books by the Dewey Decimal System

Does your collection involve a wide array of genres?

My library is 90% fiction, so the Dewey Decimal system wouldn’t work well. However, if you do enjoy your large collection of nonfiction books, the Dewey Decimal system might be an organizational method to consider.

The Dewey Decimal system first organizes books by genre. Then, it organizes books alphabetically by author’s last name.

Organize Your Books for Aesthetics

If your library is front and center in your home, you may want to consider the aesthetics of the shelves.

Here are a few ways you can organize your shelf for visual appeal more than practicality:

• Organize the books by color by placing the same colored covers/spines on the same shelf
• Vary how you shelf the books (Half horizontally on the shelf and half vertically)
• Organize by size and shape so books of the same height are together

4. Sharing Books with Friends

Sharing is caring, especially when it comes to books!

One of the first things I do when I finish a good book is text my book besties to tell them they must also read it.

As my library expanded, I had a more difficult time keeping track of who was borrowing my books. That’s why I looked into methods for tracking books I lend out.

My primary method is using my BookBuddy app. With one click, I can mark a book as lent out. I can also connect it with a contact on my phone or manually enter a name.

I also use a small home library kit. While you can place pockets in each book along with a borrowing card, I don’t use that part.

Instead, I use the slips as bookmarks to mark the date the friend borrowed the book. That way, while I use the app to track who borrowed my books, the slip helps my friends remember when and from whom they borrowed the books.

5. Recording Books You Already Read

If you’re like me, you like to keep track of what books you already read. You also like noting your opinion of the book.

My BookBuddy app can keep track of books I read along with a rating and quick review. However, I don’t like using it because it becomes cumbersome adding books I read that aren’t in my library.

That’s why my go-to method for keeping track of books I read is Goodreads.

In Goodreads, you can create lists of books you want to read, are currently reading, and already read. You can also write and read other people’s reviews. It’s the golden app for book lovers.

How Do You Organize Your Books?

Books are highly personal because they reflect individual interests. They’re your escape from reality and door to knowledge and fantastical worlds. Your library is your safe haven and should reflect an organizational method that helps you to feel comfortable.

Let me know your unique way to organize your books at home!

Are you looking for more books to add to your personal library? Check out my book database.